Fraud At Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn - Bontnewydd...

S4C News can reveal that the chief officer of one of the largest elderly charities in North Wales has been dismissed following financial fraud. 

Translated from -
https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/prif-swyddog-elusen-ir-henoed-gogledd-wedi-diswyddo-dilyn-twyll-ariannol

Caryl Jones was Chief Officer at the Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn charity until she was made redundant at the end of January.

 

The fraud was referred to the police by the charity's trustees.

 

This led to Caryl Jones receiving a conditional warning from the police following an allegation of fraud through misuse of office.

 

In a statement to S4C News, North Wales Police said: "We can confirm that officers have investigated an allegation of fraud through misuse of office following a report made to us on 9 February.

"A 33-year-old woman was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident, and the matter resulted in a conditional caution."

 

A person must admit guilt when receiving a conditional warning from the police.

 

In a statement Caryl Jones told S4C News that the "issues you refer to are part of an ongoing legal dispute" in an employment tribunal.

"Due to the nature of these legal proceedings, I am unable to comment further at this time."

In response to questions from S4C News, Dafydd Iwan, chairman of trustees of Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn, said that the charity had gone "through the appropriate steps under the direction of our employment advisers, and that led to the dismissal of the Chief Executive on January 30th".

"Because there was fraud related to money in the case, it was our duty to bring the facts to the attention of the police," he said.

 

He said that the financial fraud that the charity knew about had "definitely been repaid", but Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn did not want to reveal the exact amount of the fraud.

 

He added that Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn are partners within the Age Cymru network, and part of Age UK, and that "they have received very ready and practical help from Age Cymru and Age UK in this matter".

 

"An experience like this certainly makes us more aware of the need to ensure security and internal protection in the charity, and we are currently strengthening our internal policies," he said.

 

"Protecting our services for the elderly by strengthening our internal systems is a priority for us, with the help of Age Cymru and Age UK."

 

Caryl Jones was appointed to the post in the summer of 2023. Before that she was Senior Strategic Care Manager with the charity.

 

According to information on the Charity Commission website, Age Cymru Gwynedd and Anglesey employs 50 people and receives an income of £1,040,349, which includes contracts and grants from the government.

  

The charity operates from its headquarters in Bontnewydd near Caernarfon.

 

https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/prif-swyddog-elusen-ir-henoed-gogledd-wedi-diswyddo-dilyn-twyll-ariannol

 

Cyngor Gwynedd Council - Sympathy For The Planning Officer?

Cyngor Gwynedd council held a planning committee meeting on July, 29th, 2024.
The webcast can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/900838

Application No C24/0011/30/AM Bodernabwy, Aberdaron, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 8BH was submitted by Aled Bryn Williams, through agent Berwyn Owen, of Berllan Properties Ltd.

Miriam Williams, the legal head for the planning committee, declared an interest and left the meeting.

Gareth Williams, the local councillor supported the application.

There had been concerns that this application was outside the local development plan and inside an area of outstanding natural beauty but was passed.

It was reported in the local press -
Local Councillors Approve Self-Build Housing Scheme in Gwynedd Village
https://north.wales/news/gwynedd/local-councillors-approve-self-build-housing-scheme-in-gwynedd-village-49507.html

Application No C24/0083/18/LL Cartref Nyrsio Penisarwaun, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 3DB was to turn a former care home that closed in 2019 into a holiday hostel.

The applicant was a local person with the idea of starting his own business and the planning department recommended the application for approval. But most of the councillors were against the proposal, claiming over development and too much traffic...

Councillor Gruffydd Williams proposed a motion that councillors reject it. It was rejected by 9 votes to 2.

This too was reported on -
https://north.wales/news/gwynedd/planners-reject-proposal-to-convert-former-gwynedd-care-home-into-holiday-hostel-49496.html
Planners Reject Proposal to Convert Former Gwynedd Care Home into Holiday Hostel -

Cllr Louise Hughes was concerned over the impact of the “clientelle that hostels attract. “They attract youngsters having a good time…coming and going,” she said.

John Pughe Roberts also noted there was a chapel in his area had been converted into a hostel.“It sleeps 10 people and there have been problems, people go there to drink and so on,” he said.

Application No C23/0556/19/LL Land At Cae Stanley, Bontnewydd, LL55 2UH was refused by the committee. The proposal was for development of 21 residential units comprising of 6 one bedroom flats, 12 two bedroom flats and 3 three bedroom houses, along with associated landscaping and new vehicular access. 6 of these units would be 'affordable'.

Daniel Russell, the agent speaking in english over video claimed that the entire scheme was to be for affordable units but the council would not support this. He also claimed that there was a shortage of one and 2 bedroom properties in Bontnewydd. He stated that in April, 2024, there were 291 people on the social housing list, 81 wishing for a one bedroom property. The video was stopped blaming sound quality so his words were then read out by an officer.

Menna Trenholme, the local councillor for the area, spoke against the application stating there was no need for this type of housing in the area and questioned where the agent got his figures from...

So what are the true figures? Many areas in Gwynedd lack one bedroom units thus preventing people downgrading and freeing up larger properties. Is Bontnewydd any different? And what of the agent's claim that all the properties were originally meant to be 'affordable'? What happened there?

Next up was Application No C24/0331/41/LL Tŷ'n Lôn, Afonwen, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 6TX. This was for nine additional caravans for the current touring caravan site and the planning department recommended acceptance. 

The applicant has not long won an appeal against the planning committee and this was mentioned often in the discussion. One councillor appeared to blame officers and even the commissioner for the council losing the appeal and asked for the cost to the council...

In this case, it was explained, there were no costs as such bar that of officers time in preparing the case. No consideration was given to the costs of the commissioner and its office dealing with the appeal, nor the applicants further time and costs.

A vote to accept the application was proposed. A registered vote was called for and the decision was 9 votes to 3 not to accept.

The meeting then became messy. A new proposal was raised by Elin Hywel to reject the application. The planning officer called upon the councillor to state the legal grounds for refusal. She mentioned over development, the cumulative effect in the area and cited a planning rule. 

The planning officer intervened and suggested a different rule more relevant to what she was saying and basically coached her through her proposal so he could make a case if needed - at appeal?

The committee then refused the application by 9 votes to 2 - suggesting one member did not vote...

The agenda pack with all planning applications can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5209/Public%20reports%20pack%2029th-Jul-2024%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...